Gambia: Democracy And Culture

(JollofNews)– Since my comments on the Fatou Bargie case, I have seen all sorts of comments emphasizing the issue of cultural norms and values as it relates to elders. Many condemned Fatou for being impolite and some went even further to say she should be disciplined or rot in prison. I see lot of conservatism, partisan and tribal undertones in those expressions. I see more emotional outbursts than deeper critical analysis to understand the nature of issues. Let me elaborate.

I agree that in any society, individuals must not insult each other for any reason. I consider insults as an act of verbal violence and one of my fundamental principles is non-violence. Hence I condemn anyone seeking to insult any other person. Certainly we have culture and religions in which the use of profanity in any way is discouraged. Our religions teach us to use language that is peaceful, reconciliatory, decent and productive.

However, let us understand democracy so that we do not mix issues that will only pull us back and keep us stagnant in one place. Some made reference to the West and therefore argued that if we were not trying to confuse democracy with the West, or rather impose Western culture on the Gambia.

Let me say that Democracy itself is an aspect of culture. The democracy we see in the UK or Sweden or the US is not their traditional culture. Every society has culture and I know Europeans had a more oppressive and exploitative culture than Africa if you go back hundreds of years. It was because of that oppressive and exploitative culture in Europe that gave rise to ideas of freedom and democracy until they were able to build a society that they have today. All of us today indeed admire the quality of democracy in the West and we have seen how that democracy became the basis for a free and developed society. Many Africans run away to the West because we face oppression or poverty in our home countries.

Hence when we get to this stage, we must realize that our objective is to build democracy. What the Europeans have taught us is that democracy is an act and a process of civilizing one’s culture in which the ideas and pillars of freedom, equality, and justice become the foundations of society and governance. One needs to read European history to understand how these people went through uncountable bloody revolutions and fratricidal wars just to overthrow that oppressive feudalistic culture centred around leaders, elders and deep-seated socio-cultural beliefs which were shattered in order to bring about an equal and just society.

This is the situation the Gambia is at today. We should have done this since the first day of independence but we failed. Since then, we continued to govern ourselves with notions of feudalism and religion even though our statecraft and governance system is supposed to be based on modern ideas. A president is an elder, but a president is not an elder as an elder in our village or in our kabilo. Thus to equate the president in terms of that traditional notion of elder can only make us stagnant hence give rise to dictatorship and entrench poverty and powerlessness. Thus while we need to discourage any abusive language against anyone, yet in matters of democracy and good governance, citizens can use language that could be uncouth to describe their perception about the State and State officials. And we must see such language only in that context, and not to invoke so-called cultural and religions notions because we are not on that plane.

If we continue to invoke our socio-cultural and religious notions about national governance, then it means we are still keeping the Gambia stagnant between the PPP and APRC eras and this is no progress. Citizens must have the freedom to say that the president or the minister lied. We do not have to generate special feelings in our hearts because of that and then attempt to cut off the head of that person for saying that. If we do, we will get to a stage when it will be criminal for even saying the president made a mistake.

Our experience since the 1st Republic, but more so in the 2nd Republic should give us enough lessons and insights into how to build a modern democratic society based on justice, equality and participation. I do not know what abusive words Fatou Badgie said but I would not say those words, and I would advise her and anyone to refrain from the use of abusive language in any setting and directed at anyone. But then to want to go for the head of the lady for her words potentially causes more damage to the entire society than to Fatou Badgie as a single person in the long run.

Let us bear in mind that even in Europe and America on this day, the use of profanities is highly detested and discouraged. When Congressman Joe Wilson insulted Obama, his party and many friends rebuked him and there was pressure for him to apologize. But it would have been a threat to American democracy if they charged the man for insulting Obama. This is not to defend Joe Wilson, but such action would have far reaching implications on the ability of citizens to express their disagreement with their government hence undermine American democracy eventually.

As Mandela noted, the foundation of democracy is free speech. It is only through free speech we can ensure transparency and accountability. It is only through free speech we can ensure fair trial and justice. It is only through free speech we can expose corruption and abuse of power. It is only through free speech we can ensure that public institutions are efficient, responsive and performing. Thus any attempt to suppress free speech, even if that speech is uncivilized poses a danger to the entire society sooner or later. In fact we voted out Yaya Jammeh through free speech on social media!

We want democracy like any other society because democracy is the best path to ensure freedom and development. Even China has noticed that and is gradually moving towards democracy. It is because of the lack of democracy that the Soviet Union collapsed. The foundation of democracy and all human rights is free speech. It is democracy that can civilize and humanize our culture, which has so many oppressive and exploitative ideas, practices and institutions. Thus let us not use culture to limit democracy rather let us use democracy to renew, civilize and strengthen our culture. Certainly in that process, all will not be cozy and sweet.

8 thoughts on “Gambia: Democracy And Culture”

I respect my children because I want them to see how I act and in turn be respectful to me and others, respect is reciprocal and has nothing to do with age. This sociocultural delusion of African respect for elders does not exhist, the proof is in the pudding. Look at our people how they conduct themselves in public, stealing, lying, cheating, drug use, prostitution etc. what about official corruption and theft, is that respectful? We must stop all this nonsense talk and deal with problems head on. Sure be respectful, but also be truthful. Say what you mean and mean what you say in a respectful and responsible way. Above all you have a right in Gambia to say whatever you want to say. Tell people in authority when they are wrong, that is not an insult. Not telling them is the insult to our collective intelligence. Arresting an innocent woman is the highest form of disrespect to us individually and as a nation. Suppose this woman is rude and insult Barrrow, is that a crime or is it an abnormal expression of her frustration, does she not have the right to be a rude woman? Of course she does. Does the State have the right to interfere with her freedom of expression and jail her, absolutely NOT. The State is the rude and irresponsible party here. The preservation of human freedom, acceptance of decent and tolerance of public disagreement and insult is the highest form of respect for our nation and its people. Democracy and culture are not mutually exclusive, in fact they make us better. Well said Madi.

Another thought-provoking piece from Mr. Jobarteh. A few comments on the issues raised:-

Democracy v. Culture, Tradition and Religion: granted that the English, for example, had to cut-off their King’s head and have a COUP four hundred years ago – to establish democracy. And George Washington had to have a COUP against the King of England 250 years ago – to establish democracy. But the English to this day MIX their culture, tradition and religion with their democracy. Parliament in UK does not belong to the people – it is Her Majesty’s Parliament. And it is Her Majesty’s Government. The Church of England is Her Majesty’s Church – and she is officially the Head of the Church. The National Anthem is “God Save THE QUEEN” – not God Save England. The Queen’s Parliament makes laws that only become effective once the Queen has agreed to it. And much of the law is still the “Common Law” – as established by custom and tradition. Whereas we do have democratic votes and changes of governing parties, the real power rests with the Deep-State owing allegiance to The Queen (Her Majesty’s Courts, Her Majesty’s Police, Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, etc.). The powerful individuals in the Deep State are the Knights, the Bishops and the Lords – very much part of English Tradition (Gambians Sir Dawda Jawara thus became a Knight). By Tradition, even in 2017, the Queen’s sons, however young, have precedence over her daughters in terms of inheriting the Crown – if the Queen had any brothers in 1952 she would not have become Queen! That is the tradition.
AS FOR FATOU BADGIE, the problem may just be that of an eccentric individual judge magistrate and the police prosecutor. We have lots of CRAZY rulings here in UK too – which soon get overturned by a higher court. Fatou’s lawyers should have taken the case straight to a High Court judge – at his home if need be – and asked for her release. UK judges do that all the time – whenever there is an obvious miscarriage of justice. May be Fatou DID NOT have a lawyer – and that is a whole kettle of worms. UK lawyers were on strike recently because this government is trying to create an environment whereby the accused DO NOT get proper representation. As in Fatou’s case that is a serious issue.

Finally, if Madi Jobarteh calls Dida Halake a “LIAR”, Halake will sue Madi for every butut Madi has got. And Madi will have the DUTY of proving Dida is a “LIAR” since it is Madi who said it: Dida does NOT have to prove he is NOT a “LIAR””. Secondly, if Madi called Dida a “LIAR” and Dida threatened to fight Madi, a police man standing by can arrest Madi for a “breach of the peace”. But it would be totally mad to remand Madi into prison – even if he called Dida a “LIAR” a thousand times! By the way, if Madi was a UK MP and he called another MP in Parliament a “LIAR”, Madi would be suspended at once – unless he apologises to the House … that is the TRADITION!!
BUILDING and SUSTAINING Democracy depends very much on building the country’s economy. If people have enough to eat and enjoy life with they become more tolerant of each other – and develop fairness and democracy. If they are poor, they fight to survive – and controlling the government jobs and coffers is usually the only way to survive. If you look around the world, the democratic countries and mainly rich – and the poor countries are mainly not democratic. China, as Madi points out, may become democratic because it is getting richer – but the peasants still starve in China even today.

Thank you very much Madi Jobarteh and Dr. Isatou Sarr for your ethical, unbiased and constructive criticism of the insanity of arresting an individual for “insulting” the President. Yes, in a Theocracy and or Monarchy like the one Halake outlined, such UNCONSTITUTIONAL Acts do happen. However, such things happened before the current Constitutional Monarchy took root in England, following the Cromwell English Revolution that overthrew the English Monarchy for a brief period. Democracy as a form of government is something that the Americans borrowed from the Greek States and other a ancient Societies that practiced Egalitarian Forms of government, refined and adapted them to the American reality, following the American Revolution that throw out the Colonists, the British and their King. Madi Jobarteh and Dr. Isatou Sarr unlike Halake who could not make up his mind about the Undemocratic, Despotic and Extrajudicial Decision of arresting a Citizen for the Undemocratic Despotic Crime of “insulting the leader”, is something one hears of governments such as Nazi and Facist Germany and Italy of old. In our modern day, such Archaic and Authorcratic UNCONSTITUTIONAL Acts are the Domains of Countries such as North Korea and a few others stuck in a time capsule. The Gambian people should not and will not as witnessed by the likes of Dr. Sarr and Mr. Jobarteh accept an attempt to turn the Gambia into either a Pseudo Theocracy or Backward, Backwater Provincial State headed by insecure and Nitwit Megalomaniacs bent on turning a Secular State or Nation, the Gambia into a Kingdom of their Nocturnal Dreams. The Mai Fatty, Ousainou Darbo and Adama Barrow regime need to be Check mated before they Push the Gambia into a “Kingdom” Not unlike the Khmer Rouge. This is how Facist and Despots start up in a given point in time. They use cultural, and traditional emotive buttons and religious moral codes to get the people to buy into their Insidious and deadly noxious brew. Release One lady Fatou Badgie who has been illegally and unconstitutionally arrested. Any minute that Fatou Badgie spends in a Jail Cell especially, Mile 2, is an Indictment and Bloody Stain on All of the Gambians Collective Silence and Accompliance with the Devil’s. Gambia is more than the Sum Total of One individual, One People and One Region.

=peace# the lawmakers you are calling names are mostly APRC because they form the majority in the National Assembly. Few days ago you were complaining that the government should consult the opposition before taking decisions and when they did you start calling the representatives of the opposition names. Just because they agree with the government on some constitutional issues. Stop contradicting yoirself.

We should then try to improve education in the Gambia,because not knowing what the word democracy means is a problem especially the illitrates who constitute a good proportion of the Gambian population.

No matter who and what you are, no one is free from everything neither free to do everything,period. It is a matter of the truth,if you can justify and prove your reason to call somebody a liar is totally a different thing.
When I talk of culture,I mean those refined and edited versions either by our faith (RELIGIONS) or laws both administrative and traditional that are promoting peaceful coexistence.
Prophets came and denounce cultures that are inferior as far as the health and conscience of the human being is conern.And the same applies to the legislative/Administrative ones.
This case is just an opportunity for me to voice my opinion and I am not out to Judge anyone or defend any action. However when it is used as a barometre,I would have plead on behalf of the woman,but to automatically
take sides without knowing the facts should not warrant sensitive conclusions.THANKS TO ALL WHO DESERVED IT.